Module 3 : Responsible Parenthood

• Reproductive life planning includes all the decisions an individual or couple make about whether and when to have children, how many children to have, and how they are spaced
• Family Planning - goal is to enable couples and individuals to freely choose how many children to have and when to have them.
• Natural Family Planning / Fertility Awareness Methods - rely on periods of temporary abstinence and determining fertile days
• Abstinence - refraining from sexual relations
• Calendar Method - abstain from sexual relations on the days of ovulation (3-4 days before and after ovulation) ; knowing the "safe days";
• Basal Body Temperature (BBT) - before the day of ovulation the BBT of a woman drops 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit. BBT rises at the time of ovulation due to progesterone
• Cervical Mucus Method - using Spinnbarkeit Test to determine if a woman is ovulating. The cervical mucus much stretch atleast 1 cm
• Symptothermal Method - combining calendar method, basal body temperature, and cervical mucus methods
• Ovulation Detection - Over-the-counter ovulation detection kits
• Lactation Amenorrhea Method - breastfeeding> natural suppression of ovulation; contraception after childbirth for 3 months. After 3 months, choose another method of contraception
• Coitus Interruptus - Withdrawal method; a man takes his penis our of the vagina before he ejaculates
• Combined Oral Contraceptives - oral medications used to prevent pregnancy; it contains synthetic estrogen with a small amount of synthetic progesterone; estrogen suppresses FSH and LH
• Minipill - oral contraceptive that contains progesterone only
• Emergency Postcoital Contraception - morning -after pill; it has high level of estrogen which interferes with the production of progesterone inhibiting good implantation
• Injectable Contraceptive ( DepoProvera) - single dose every 3 months ; intramuscular injection of medroxyprogesterone acetate.
• Implants - long acting reversible contraceptive; thin rods containing progestin are placed under skin on upper arm
• Vaginal Ring - A ring inserted into the vagina to release estrogen and progestin hormones which stops ovulation and thickens the cervical mucus.
• Contraceptive Skin Patch - placed on the arm or back which is left for one month ; patches that slowly but continuously release a combination or estrogen and progesterone
• Spermicides - chemicals that kill sperm and prevent sperm from reaching the uterus
• Active Spermicidal Agents - Surface acting ( surfractants) : nonoxynol-9, octoxynol-9, menfegol
• Base Agent - spermicides that are foams, jellies, creams, foaming tablets, suppositories etc.
• Sponges - inserted in the vagina, shaped like a mushroom; polyurethane substance; disposable
• Diaphragm - shallow rubber dome with a firm flexible rim
• Cervical Cap - soft, deep, rubber cup with a firm, round rim that fits snugly over the cervix
• Male Condoms - thin sheath made of latex or other materials that is used by males; placed on top of the erect penis with a 1/2 inch empty space at the tip
• Female Condoms - polyurethane sheath inserted in the vagina before intercourse; has 2 flexible rings ( inner- closed end, outer - open end; stays at the outside of the vagina )
• Intrauterine Device (IUD) - A small, T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Has copper which acts like a spermicide
• Vasectomy - Surgical procedure whereby the vas deferens are cut and tied off to block the passage of sperms
• Tubal Ligation - Surgical procedure whereby the fallopian tube is blocked or removed to prevent fertilization